Dear Editor,
In a recent editorial in this paper, Editor Patrick Raftis had the audacity to question whether economic growth is always desirable?
Considering that “economic growth” is almost the religious mantra of our times, to question it, is almost sacrilegious. No doubt it is rarely put forward by those who would most often benefit from it, either financially or politically.
Local leaders who support major industrial projects in their community do not want to look a gift horse in the mouth. They ensure us that environmental impacts and public safety are their major concern and will be rigorously studied. And then they tell us don’t worry trust the science. Progress will soon follow. We can have our cake and eat it too.
So all is glossed over with promises of jobs, jobs, jobs and greater prosperity for all. We might even get a Starbucks or Walmart in our neighbourhood.
On a local note, we have seen this in full page ads in our weeklies often paid for by taxpayers. They invite us to just imagine the possibilities with pictures suggesting support from all three generations. And while these projects do come with measurable results, their possible future negative impacts are rarely noted.
Little is discussed on how they almost always bring greater traffic volumes, higher neighborhood crime rates, wage disparity and shortages of affordable housing. Ignored are the intangible values of small town living that comes from a slower pace of life. Actual time to know your neighbours. And volunteering for community fundraisers or work bees? Why bother when you have a wealthy industrial benefactor to cover costs to take care of our so called community well being?
We have a rare quality of life in this part of rural Bruce County that is acknowledged with each and every, (always well attended) Homecoming we hold. A quality of life I fear will be hard to find amidst the competitive hustle of rapid economic growth coupled with the high volume transient work force that will only accelerate it.
David Wood,
Mildmay
